4265 research outputs found
Sort by
The effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on mental health parameters and C-reactive protein: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Full text linkBackground: The findings of trials investigating the effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) supplementation on depression, anxiety, and C-reactive protein (CRP) are inconsistent. The current meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was carried out to assess the effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) administration on mental health parameters and CRP levels. Methods: Two independent authors systematically searched online databases including EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception until 30th July 2019. Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool was applied to assess the methodological quality of included trials. The heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using Cochrane's Q test and I-square (I2) statistic. Data were pooled using a random-effects model and weighted mean difference (WMD) was considered as the overall effect size. Results: Twenty one trials were included in this meta-analysis. Consumption of saffron resulted in a significant reduction in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (11 studies with 12 effect size) (WMD: �4.86; 95 CI: �6.58, �3.14), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) (5 studies) (WMD: �5.29; 95 CI: �8.27, �2.31) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores (3 studies with 4 effect size) (WMD: �2.22; 95 CI: �2.73, �1.72). Saffron intake did not affect Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-D), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS-A) scores and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrated that saffron intake significantly reduced BDI, BAI and PSQI scores, but did not affect HDRS-D, HARS-A scores and CRP levels. © 2019 Elsevier Lt
Kinetic study and performance evaluation of an integrated two-phase fixed-film baffled bioreactor for bioenergy recovery from wastewater and bio-wasted sludge
No full textThe present study evaluated the performance of an integrated two-phase fixed-film baffled bioreactor for wastewater treatment with regard to its energy consumption and production. The total potential of the bioenergy recovery of the bioreactor was evaluated not only from the anaerobic wastewater treatment but also from the produced bio-wasted sludge of both phases. Statistical correlations between bio-methane production and kinetic coefficients were uncovered. Methane yields between 0.15 and 0.30 L CH4.g sCODremoved �1 were obtained during anaerobic wastewater treatment. The maximum energy recoveries from the digestion of bio-wasted sludge (sloughed biofilm) equaled 0.28 and 0.3 L CH4. g TS�1 for aerobic and anaerobic units, respectively. The Grau model was appropriate for predicting the performance of the bioreactor and the potential of bio-methane production. It was demonstrated that substrate utilization rate (Rsu) and Grau coefficient (KG) can be applied to predict the rate of methane production. Regarding the volume of treated wastewater, the energy production was in the range of 2.8�12 kWh.m�3. Moreover, the overall energy consumption of wastewater treatment was in the range of 0.32�0.79 kWh/kg sCODremoved, while the total energy production was 3.7�5.1 kWh/kg sCODremoved. Therefore, the designed bioreactor was energy positive with net energy production of 3.39�4.5 kWh/kg sCODremoved �1. The total energy requirement for both wastewater treatment and bio-wasted sludge digestion was 7�15.5 of the total energy production, and, therefore, the bioreactor is a sustainable energy process. The contribution of anaerobic wastewater treatment and anaerobic digestion of bio-wasted sludge of aerobic and anaerobic units for energy recovery as bio-methane was 53, 26, and 21, respectively. As the bioreactor achieved more than 95 of sCOD removal and have a high bioenergy production, and since kinetic coefficients demonstrated the considerably high performance of the bioreactor, it can be of interest as an appropriate treatment process. © 2019 Elsevier Lt
Phone-based interventions to control gestational weight gain: a systematic review on features and effects
No full textObjective: The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence regarding the effects and the features of phone-based interventions to control gestational weight gain (GWG). Methods: We included studies that evaluated the effects of phone-based interventions on controlling GWG. The characteristics of studies, effects, and features of interventions were extracted. Results: A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Outcomes were categorized into three groups (GWG control, proportion of women returning to pre-pregnancy weight, and proportion of women who exceeded the Institute of Medicine recommendations for GWG). Although most studies (66) showed a statistically significant positive effect of phone-based interventions on the GWG control, the effects on the other outcome categories were found to be inconsistent. While the included studies used phone call and short messaging service (SMS), no study used the other functions of telephones and mobile phones such as video call, internet access, social networks, and smartphone applications. Regarding the functionalities, phone calls were used to provide guidance for healthy weight gain and communication with healthcare providers. SMS provided reminders, educational materials, and guidance. Conclusion: Phone-based interventions can help pregnant women control GWG by providing guidance, reminders, and educational materials. When these interventions use multiple functionalities, they are more effective in controlling GWG. © 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
The experiences of surrogate mothers: A qualitative study
Full text linkBackground: Surrogates are women who bear a genetically unrelated child for another individual or couple. Experiences of surrogate mothers need further investigation. Objective: The objective of the study was to answer the questions of what were the experiences of surrogate mothers and what problems they confronted during the process of surrogacy. Methods: The present study was a qualitative content analysis. Purposive sampling was used in the study. Pregnant women with various ages and educational levels were invited for semi-structured interviews. Graneheim and Lundman's method was used for analyzing the data. Results: In this study, 15 participants were interviewed. The codes extracted from the interviews were categorized into five main themes and 13 subthemes. The main themes were: (1) desperation; (2) pain and suffering with the subthemes of physical pain, emotional suffering, suffering caused by others, and fears; (3) emotional involvement and self-alienation; (4) looking for the positive aspects of the surrogacy with subthemes of positive interpretation of the experience, and the sense of pride; (5) and supportive systems including the commissioning parents, the surrogate's family, the health system, and the community as subthemes. Financial motivations were the reason for surrogacy which made women endure many physical, psychological, and social problems. The women expressed some positive feelings about surrogacy and also mentioned several support sources. Conclusion: Surrogate mothers reported numerous physical, emotional, and social problems that require better counseling services. A supportive system, especially the health system, should provide better and more humanistic services for surrogate mothers
The role of curcumin/curcuminoids during gastric cancer chemotherapy: A systematic review of non-clinical study
No full textAims: Chemotherapy is an effective therapeutic modality which is commonly used for battling various cancers. However, several side effects induced by chemotherapeutic drugs would limit their clinical use. The present systematic review aims to evaluate the role of curcumin/curcuminoids co-administration during gastric cancer chemotherapy. Methods: This systematic review was done according to PRISMA guidelines and a full systematic search in the electronic databases up to May 2020 using search terms in the titles and abstracts for the identification of relevant literature. 279 articles were found in electronic databases and 175 articles screened by title and abstract. Finally, 13 articles were included in this systematic review according to our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Key findings: The findings indicated that gastric cancer chemotherapy induces cytotoxicity effects in various ways including a decrease of cell viability, colony formation, metastasis, tumor growth, and weight, as well as elevation of apoptosis pathway, oxidative stress pathway compared to the control group. Co-administration of curcumin/curcuminoids with chemotherapy synergistically increased the effects of anti-cancer chemotherapy compared to the group solo treated with chemotherapeutic agents. Also, in chemoresistance gastric cancer cells, co-administration of curcumin reduced chemoresistance mainly through the reduction of NF-κB activation and elevation of apoptosis. Significance: According to the findings, the use of curcumin/curcuminoids during gastric cancer chemotherapy has chemosensitizing effects, and also it can reduce chemoresistance in gastric cancer. © 202
Inactivation of Fecal coliforms during solar and photocatalytic disinfection by zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs)
Full text linkWater samples of 0, 50, and 100 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) spiked with fecal coliforms (107 CFU/ml) were exposed to natural sunshine in 1l quartz glass tubes fitted with rectors' compound parabolic concentrators CPCS at two forms CPC1 (whit nanoparticle zinc oxide) and CPC2(without nanoparticle zinc oxide). The samples were characterized using the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). On clear days, the complete inactivation times (more than 7-log unit reduction in bacterial population) in the systems with CPC1, and CPC2 were 15, and 30 min, respectively. The maximum temperatures obtained in the water samples were 80°C for CPC1, and 82°C for CPC2. The use of CPC1 with hydroxyl radicals (OH·) production significantly improved the efficiency of the old CPCS technique, since these systems (CPC1-2) shortened the exposure times to solar radiation and also minimized the negative effects of turbidity and also regrowth was zero in the disinfected samples. Due to two simultaneous effects of high temperatures and UV, regrowth in most ways of solar disinfection was not seen in these examples. Overall, this technology has been proved to be a good enhancement method to inactivate microorganisms under real conditions and represents a good alternative technique to drinking water treatment. © 2019, Islamic Azad University
High-efficiency removal of phosphorous from filtered activated sludge effluent using electrochemical process
No full textRecently electrochemical process for removing phosphorous (P) from effluents has received more attention to control water resource pollution. However, there are many uncertainties about energy demand in this process. So, in this research energy demand was principally investigated. P concentration was measured on 210 samples before and after the electrochemical process. Direct current electricity was applied in the range of 0.1�1.5 A (A). Cathode and anode electrodes were eight pieces of steel plate submerged in the liquid. After measurement of P concentration, the data were analyzed by Greenhouse-Geisser, one-way ANOVA and Tukey's tests. The results showed that the optimum reaction time and electricity currents were 10 min and 0.6 A, respectively. Also, 98 efficiency for P removal was achieved. The current density was 1.89 mA/cm2. The energy demand was 7.69 KWh per equivalent of removed P and 0.45 kWh/m3. The data showed that the proposed method is economical and certainly more efficient in comparison with conventional P removal methods. Therefore, the electrochemical process alone by steel electrodes may be a capable process for P removal from filtered activated sludge effluent. © 2020 Elsevier Lt
Long non-coding RNA molecules in tuberculosis
No full textTuberculosis (TB), a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world. Despite significant advances in detection techniques and therapeutic approaches for tuberculosis, there is still no suitable solution for early screening and reducing the number of individuals affected and their effective treatment. Various cellular events can disrupt the development of TB. The basis of these events is dysregulating of genes expression patterns related with specific molecules. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are molecules discovered to regulate the expression of protein-coding genes and participate in gene silencing, cell cycle regulation and cellular differentiation processes. Dysregulation of lncRNAs has been found to be associated with many diseases, including cancers and infectious diseases. Thus, the recognition of lncRNAs as novel molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets for tuberculosis is promising. In the present review, we try to summarize the current findings of lncRNA expression patterns and its role in tuberculosis infection process. © 2020 Elsevier B.V
A review of metabolic syndrome parameters: Key players in aging pathogenesis
No full textMetabolic syndrome represents a cluster of metabolic abnormalities (e.g., central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, atherogenic, and insulin resistance), and is strongly linked to an enhanced risk for developing atherosclerotic, diabetes and nonatherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. To determine to what extent metabolic syndrome parameters are involved in the pathogenesis, and progression of aging. The scientific literature (Scopus, Google scholar, and PubMed) was searched from 1980 and 2020. The relationship among metabolic syndrome profiles and the aging is emerging as a public health question of importance to primary care practitioners. A number of studies have suggested a link between metabolic syndrome parameters with aging. Therefore, further investigations on the parameters of metabolic syndrome may be involved in the pathogenesis of aging. This review emphasizes the studies investigating the roles of metabolic syndrome, oxidative stress, inflammation, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, overweight, high blood pressure, cardiovascular, type 2 diabetes in aging. © 2020, Advanced Scientific Research. All rights reserved
A systematic review and meta-analysis of antibiotic resistance patterns, and the correlation between biofilm formation with virulence factors in uropathogenic E. coli isolated from urinary tract infections
No full textUrinary tract infection (UTI) is caused by the invasion of the pathogen in the urinary system that can manifest as symptomatic or asymptomatic bacteriuria. This study was conducted to investigate antibiotic resistance patterns, and the correlation between biofilm formations with virulence factors in uropathogenic E. coli isolates retrieved from UTI. We searched Scopus and Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of sciences for studies published in the English language between 1st 2005 to 31st December 2019. The Mesh terms and text words included �biofilms�, OR �biofilm formation�, AND �antibiotic resistance�, OR �drug-resistance�, OR �antimicrobial drug resistance�, AND �urinary tract infections�, OR �UTI�, AND �biofilm related-genes�, AND �virulence factors� AND �correlation�, AND �Uropathogenic Escherichia coli�, OR �Uropathogenic E. coli� AND �prevalence� AND �Iran�. Data analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software. The random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence with 95 confidence interval (CI). The combined rates of biofilm formation in Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) isolates were achieved as 84.6 (95 CI: 72.7�91.9). Also, 24.8, 26.1 and 44.6 of UPEC isolates were able to create strong, moderate and weak biofilm, respectively. The highest pooled antibiotic resistance was against Ampicillin followed by Tetracycline with resistance rates of 74.6 and 64.9, respectively. Accordingly, some studies reported that biofilm production was significantly associated with antibiotic resistance and virulence genes (p < 0.05). This study showed a high tendency among UPEC isolates to form biofilm (more than 84), also, most studies included in the present review reported a significant correlation between biofilm formation with antibiotic resistance and virulence factors. © 2020 Elsevier Lt